Elena Rybakina captured her second Porsche Tennis Grand Prix championship in Stuttgart, defeating Karolina Muchova 7-5, 6-1 to claim the title she first won in 2024. The Kazakh star clinched her 13th career tournament victory in just 78 minutes, reinforcing an impressive start to the season that already included a triumph at the Australian Open earlier in January. The Stuttgart event is famous for awarding the champion a Porsche, which the winner traditionally drives onto the court for a celebratory lap. In 2024, Rybakina was unable to take the car for a spin because she had not yet passed the required driving test.
She used the prize money from her 2024 win to enroll in a driving course, successfully completing the test the following year and finally earning the right to take the car for a celebratory drive. "This tournament is amazing; we love coming back here," Rybakina said in the post‑match interview. "It really feels like home and you just want to return every year.
I'm super happy for my second victory in Stuttgart and for the beautiful car that comes with it." Rybakina entered the final with a wave of confidence, having breezed through the earlier rounds with three straight‑set wins. However, her path was not without drama: in the quarter‑final she faced Leylah Fernandez and was forced to fend off two match points in a grueling three‑hour encounter before ultimately prevailing.
That close call highlighted her mental toughness and her ability to raise her level when the stakes are highest. The win also placed Rybakina in an exclusive club of active players who have secured at least five WTA titles on more than one surface. She joins a distinguished cohort that includes Venus Williams, Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek – a testament to her versatility and adaptability across clay, grass and hard courts. Beyond the headline result, the tournament featured other notable storylines.
On Sunday, Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk captured the WTA Open de Rouen title, beating fellow Ukrainian Veronika Podrez 6-3, 6-4 in a match that lasted one hour and 21 minutes. Kostyuk’s victory marked her second WTA singles crown and her first in over three years.
She described the final as a historic moment for Ukrainian tennis, noting that it was the first time two players from Ukraine contested a WTA final. "I know how much work, sacrifice, tears and sweat goes into this sport," Kostyuk said, "and to be on this stage makes me incredibly proud of Ukrainian tennis right now. We have five players in the Top 100, and I hope this match, and the presence of Veronika and me, will inspire more kids to pick up a racket and experience the passion of the game." Rybakina’s Stuttgart triumph adds another chapter to her rapidly growing résumé. After her Australian Open victory, she has now secured two titles in the first half of the year, signaling a potential challenge for the world number one spot.
Her powerful serve, aggressive baseline play, and calm under pressure have become hallmarks of her game, and she appears poised to contend for Grand Slam crowns later in the season. The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix continues to be a marquee event on the WTA calendar, offering not only valuable ranking points but also a unique prize that blends sport and luxury.
Fans can follow live scores, results and upcoming match schedules through the Sky Sports app, which also provides video highlights, in‑depth analysis and the option to stream matches contract‑free via NOW. For those who prefer to watch the action on television, the ATP and WTA tours are broadcast live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available through the Sky Sports app and NOW platform. Detailed information on how to access these services can be found on the Sky Sports website. Overall, Elena Rybakina’s repeat victory in Stuttgart underscores her status as one of the premier talents in women’s tennis today.
Her ability to dominate opponents, overcome adversity, and now add a coveted Porsche to her trophy cabinet cements her reputation as a rising star capable of shaping the sport’s future. Meanwhile, Marta Kostyuk’s breakthrough win in Rouen highlights the growing depth of Ukrainian tennis and offers a glimpse of the next generation of contenders ready to make their mark on the global stage.